Terres d’Espagne Archive

“Terres d'Espagne” – Music during reign of Philippe IV – Damien Colomb, organ – Editions Hortus

by John Sunier | Nov 3, 2011 | Classical CD Reviews

“Terres d’Espagne” – Music of FRANCISCO CORREA DE ARAUXO, MANOEL RODRIGUES COELHO, PEETER CORNET and ABRAHAM CAN DEN KERCKHOVEN – Damien Colomb on the historic organ of Lorris in Gâtinas – Editions Hortus 081, 70:12 [Distr. by  Allegro] ****: Recordings of classical organ music need to have something going for them to be attractive to buyers. Sonically, this stereo production is exceptionally well done with a well-defined clarity and an open, alive quality. The imaging is natural and the music is fascinating. Here, the French label Editions Hortus offers a selection of music from  Terres d’Espagne (Spanish territories) during the reign of Philippe IV (known as “The Great” or the “Planet King,” 1605-1665). As the comprehensive notes (in French and English) explain, he was King of Spain and the Indies and King of Portugal and sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands. As a patron of the arts, he supported the young Velázquez (whom he later ennobled), commissioned works from Rubens, Poussin and Stanzione and collected paintings from Raphael, Dürer, Tintoretto, etc. He was also a patron of literature and theater (Lope de Vega and Pedro Calderon de la Barca), as well as Spanish and foreign composers. Editions Hortus has chosen works […]